This post has been published by me as a part of the Blog-a-Ton 42; the forty-second edition of the online marathon of Bloggers; where we decide and we write. To be part of the next edition, visit and start following Blog-a-Ton. The theme for the month is "COLOR"
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"She has suffered 60% burns. We have shifted her to I.C.U. We can't say anything right now.", said the doctor and rushed inside the room.
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He was devastated. What had she done to infuriate someone to this extent that he poured acid on her? Was rejecting someone's love, whom she did not love back, a crime? Was standing up for what she felt is right, a crime? She was his little girl who would never do any wrong to someone. She always helped people in their need, in whatever ways she could, irrespective of whether she knew them or not. But for all her goodness, this is what she got in return; lying on the bed in I.C.U. with various tubes piercing her burnt body, struggling for her life every second, while the person responsible for her condition roamed freely out there, searching for his next victim.
He was amazed how quickly his daughter had grown up. It felt like yesterday when the nurse had handed him, his little bundle of joy, Tanvi. She was so small and delicate, he feared hurting her. Life had played such a cruel game with him, he was at the same hospital again only to see her daughter writhing in pain. Some heartless person had caused her so much agony in the name of love and he could not do anything. Never in his life had he felt so helpless. He felt the father in him has been defeated for he could not protect his little angel.
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"Dr. Verma is calling you in his cabin.", informed the nurse
"Mr. Mathur, please sit"
"Doctor, how is my daughter?"
"She is doing fine. Her face has been disfigured. Though a series of surgeries will help in correcting it to an extent but that's a later stage. Right now, we are keeping a close watch on her vital parameters. As of now they are under control. Luckily there has been not much damage to her other organs but..."
"But? But what doctor?", he asked anxiously
"I am sorry to say, Mr. Mathur, but she will never be able to see again."
He felt the ground beneath him move. Tears flowed from his eyes. He was inconsolable.
"Please doctor, do something. There might be some way. There is so much advanced techniques available nowadays. Please try. I am sure she will..."
"Mr. Mathur, I am doctor, it is my duty to save my patient at all costs. We have tried our best. We have consulted with the best eye specialists but there's nothing that can be done. The acid was poured on her face because of which the vision in both her eyes has been permanently damaged."
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As he walked out of the doctor's cabin, his eyes fell on the painting hung on the adjacent wall. He remembered how Tanvi used to paint. A look into her cupboard and anyone could tell how much she loved painting. While other girls of her age have cupboards overflowing with shoes, clothes and other accessories, Tanvi had rather stored painting brushes, palette, watercolors and other painting related stuff. Even her room was painted according to her wishes. She loved colors and she made sure everything around her was colorful. Two weeks back, she had started making his portrait. It was going to be the main attraction of the first painting exhibition, which she was going to organize next month. She was going to unravel her talent in front of the world. Her dream was on the verge of fulfillment.
"You are the star of my exhibition, Dad. This is your birthday gift, from your princess. I hope you love this.", she had said excitedly
"Of course, I will. The world is going to get a new star, and that star is you, my princess. You are soon going to live your dream. What else can I ask for?", he had said smiling through the tears of happiness
A smile lit his face, as he remembered the conversation. But the very next moment the doctor's words were ringing in his head, and the reality dawned upon him.
He stood outside I.C.U. and stared at his daughter. He felt numb. He felt defeated at the game that destiny had played. He always wanted to color his daughter's life in happiness. But now the only thing that remained was darkness. He was scared. What will happen when Tanvi will get to know this? How will he even console her? The girl who has grown up with colors all around her, will never be able to see any other color except black. He felt a lump in his chest and he collapsed on the bench crying for his daughter, crying for the injustice done to her, crying on his helplessness, crying for all those innocent girls who will be the targets of such men.
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The doctors say that the acid has burnt her body, disfigured her face and made her lose her vision. They can only see the visible scars. What about those invisible scars that one small bottle of acid has left on her soul? What about her charred dreams? Visible scars give some pain but ultimately they heal with time. It is the invisible scars that kills you with every breath you take.
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